Switching eggs on a broody hen?

[myretrieverotie]

I have a broody hen that has been diligently tending her nest for almost 2 weeks. She has 15 eggs as of today. The problem is that she does not have access to a rooster so her eggs aren't fertilized. I do have a roo & fertilized eggs from the hens that are with him. If I switch them out, will she sit on the new eggs until they hatch or stop sitting when her current eggs should have hatched?

 

[ChicKat]

Hi myretrieverotie,

Not sure that anyone could predict the outcome successfully. Sometimes a hen doesn't go the distance (21 days)-- So if you decide to try it, you may want to make the switch ASAP.

I'm thinking since I don't know the reliability of the broody I'm trying to encourage--- (maybe she is broody, maybe she isn't -- and if she is, will she go 21 days? ) I might parallel her hatch with some fertile eggs in incubator. If she abandons the nest, maybe I can transfer the eggs in with the ones in the incubator. If she does go the distance, and the incubator eggs also hatch, maybe I can put chicks under her and she will care for the whole bunch.

Good luck with what you decide.

 

[myretrieverotie]

Thank you! I am going to switch them on her in the morning. It's the only time she gets off of them. We'll see how it goes.

 

[ChicKat]

Good luck!!! I'm going to be trying hatching for the first time soon -- what fun lies ahead!

 

[wildriverswolf90]

I had a cochin sit for the first time back at the end of February. I let her sit for a week on dud eggs before I switched put fertile eggs under her. She took them and sat for the extra week. So it can be done! GoodLuck!